Did you know it’s also about enjoying simple moments? And feeling grateful for loved ones?

I accidentally became a minimalist when I left the US with $800 and a suitcase to live in France.

It wasn’t my first time living out of a suitcase.

But this time I had no return ticket. All I knew was that I’d be teaching English and staying at a fellow teachers’ home.

When I finally arrived, I plopped my suitcase on the modest, sagging bed. One by one, I hung up my clothes in the closet. Dozens of hangers remained empty, dangling like forlorn wind chimes.

Besides some personal care products, I had brought a book that would surely delight my students: Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss. Like Guy-I-Am, one of the main characters, I hesitated trying new things. I do not like them, Sam-I-Am!

But over the years, living with less completely changed me. I decluttered my mind of limiting beliefs and focus on things that matter most to me.

Minimalism taught me these 3 life lessons.

1. Let go of control

Vincent Nguyen via Becoming Minimalist writes that many people who adopt minimalism worry, What if I get rid of something I need in the future?

When I settled down in an apartment, I amassed handbags, books and cheap tops: You never know! Gifts from old lovers recalled painful breakups.

Then, as I sat back and evaluated my possessions, a question popped up. Which objects do you tie to the past or future?

Perhaps one of the biggest reasons we hang on to stuff is the fear of uncertainty. Regretting the past or worrying about the future gives us a sense of control over the uncontrollable.

We invest objects with the power to make us feel secure.

Of course, we all need a home, clothes and food to find physical security. Once we’re physically safe though, philosopher Jiddu Krishnamurti warns us of seeking emotional security in things and people.

Peace of mind comes from letting go of control and the desire for certainty.

So, decluttering our home shows us how we’ve been escaping the present moment. But taking minimalism to extremes can also keep us from embracing difficult feelings.

For example, my perfectionism reared its ugly head when I began organizing and lining up everything. Putting order in my belongings gave me instant gratification. But I couldn’t put my shame, the source of perfectionism, into a cute storage box.

In mindfulness meditation, we learn how to allow thoughts and emotions, instead of avoiding or reacting to them. By welcoming past hurts and future concerns, we free ourselves from their weight and make better choices.